Leg support for skiers

ABSTRACT

An accessory for use inside ski boots for rearwardly branching a skier&#39;&#39;s legs. The accessory comprises an elongated leg portion which extends generally from the skier&#39;&#39;s upper ankle to the calf and is flexibly curved to conform to the back side of the calf and ankle. The accessory further comprising a heel portion which extends transversely forward of the leg portion and defines a socket to receive the user&#39;&#39;s heel and be held in place thereby. The leg and heel portions are connected by a centrally disposed strip of material the lateral dimension of which is substantially less than that of the leg portion. The strip of material is flexible and constructed to permit forward and rearward flexing movement of the leg portion relative to the heel portion, while preventing upward and downward movement and sideward flexing movement of the leg portion relative to the heel portion. The leg portion further comprises first and second lobes which extend downward on each side of the connecting strip in forward relation thereto to overlie the user&#39;&#39;s ankle bones and to slide thereover as the leg portion flexes forwardly or rearwardly.

United States Patent [191 McCutchan, II

[ Apr. 15, 1975 LEG SUPPORT FOR SKIERS [76] Inventor: Blaine R.McCutchan, II, 4550 Central Ave. NE, Hilltop Trailer Ct., Lot No. 1259,Minneapolis, Minn. 55421 [22] Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 [21] Appl. No.:465,063

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Merchant,Gould, Smith & Edell [57] ABSTRACT An accessory for use inside ski bootsfor rearwardly branching a skiers legs. The accessory comprises anelongated leg portion which extends generally from the skiers upperankle to the calf and is flexibly curved to conform to the back side ofthe calf and ankle. The accessory further comprising a heel portionwhich extends transversely forward of the leg portion and defines asocket to receive the users heel and be held in place thereby. The legand heel portions are connected by a centrally disposed strip ofmaterial the lateral dimension of which is substantially less than thatof the leg portion. The strip of material is flexible and constructed topermit forward and rearward flexing movement of the leg portion relativeto the heel portion, while preventing upward and downward movement andsideward flexing movement of the leg portion relative to the heelportion. The leg portion further comprises first and second lobes whichextend downward on each side of the connecting strip in forward relationthereto to overlie the users ankle bones and to slide thereover as theleg portion flexes forwardly or rearwardly.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LEG SUPPORT FOR SKIERS The invention isdirected to an accessory for use inside ski boots for rearwardly bracinga skiers legs.

As with most sporting activities. the sport of skiing continuouslyundergoes changes in technique. both subtle and substantial. and at bothrecreational and competitive levels. One particularly significant changehas occurred in development of sitting back on the skis which. from thebroad standpoint. affords better control and quicker response.

Development of this technique has been attended by a commensurate changein skiing equipment. most notably in ski boots. which have become higherbacked and more rigid. and with accessories which cooperate with the skiboot to brace the skier from rearward movement.

The subject invention is of the latter type. and is specificallydirected to such an accessory which fits inside the boot behind theusers heel. ankle and calf. Although devices of this type are presentlyknown and available. they fall within one of two categories and aresubject to drawbacks and problems which have not as yet been solved. Inthe first category are bracing acces sories which are constructed to fiton the outside ofthe ski boot. Such an approach initially raises theproblem of how to rigidly secure the accessory to the boot. sincesignificant rearward forces are exerted on the device. Secondly. sincethe device is outside the boot and the boot top has a substantialthickness immediately behind the ankle. it is impossible for the deviceto contact and offer support to the skiers leg at that point. This isordinarily accompanied by a concentrating of forces at the higher pointof engagement on the skiers leg.

which is capable of causing discomfort. An example of this type ofdevice is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 31165.6 1 9. issued to Brent E. Brayon May 20. 1972 for a Skier Leg Support.

The second category of devices is typified by the Skier's Brace of US.Pat. No. 3.7l().484. issued to Kent A. Heitzinger on Jan. 16. 1973. Thistype of device is inserted into the ski boot behind the skiers leg. andby its nature solves to some extent the problem of rigid cooperationwith the boot and leg. However. the accessory is not anchored and istherefore capable of upward. downward and side-to-side movement, whichdeters it from properly bracing the skier. It is also possible for suchunwanted movement to result in substantial discomfort to the skiers footand ankle by reason of engagement with the edge of the device. Further.even if anchored. the Heitzinger accessory could cause such discomfortdue to engagement by the edge of the device.

The inventive bracing accessory herein disclosed and claimed is-alsoconstructed for insertion into the ski boot behind the skiers leg. Theaccessory comprises an elongated leg portion of such length to extendgenerally from the users upper ankle to the calf. and is both flexiblyconstructed and curved to conform thereto. In order to anchor theaccessory within the boot. a heel portion is included which extendstransversely forward of the elongated leg portion and defines a socketto receive the users heel and be held in place thereby. The leg and heelportions are interconnected by a thin strip of material which precludesupward. downward and side-to-side flexing movement of the leg portionrelative to the heel portion. but which permits the leg portion to flexforwardly and rearwardly relative to the heel portion as is necessarywith the skiers body movement.

In order to insure total comfort to the skier. I also provide a pair oflobes which extend downwardly from the leg portion on either side of theconnecting strip and in forward relation thereto. As such. the lobesoverlie the user's ankle bones and slide relative thereto through allmovements of the skier.

The inventive accessory is fully capable of providing anchored. rigidbracing support to the skier in total comfort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation ofaskier's lower leg and foot in a ski boot. with the inventive bracingaccessory inserted into the boot behind the skiers leg (hidden portionsbeing represented by phantom lines);

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inventive bracing accessory;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of the bracing accessory prior to formationinto the desired form;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation depicting the relationship of the bracingaccessory to the skiers leg. ankle and foot; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the bracingaccessory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. I discloses a typical skiboot 1l.a skier's lower leg 12 and foot 13 and the inventive bracingaccessory 14 which is inserted into the boot ll behind the lower leg 12and foot 13.

With additional reference to FIG. 2. accessory 14 comprises an elongatedleg portion 15. a heel portion 16 and a connecting portion 17.

Leg portion 15 is of such length to extend generally from the usersupper ankle to a predetermined point on the back side of his calf (seealso FIG. 4). It is to be understood that the overall length of legportion 15 can be varied within the scope of the invention. in order toaccommodate and offer bracing support to skiers of different size. aswell as to adapt the accessory to various conditions.

Leg portion 15 is longitudinally concave and preferably formed fromflexible. self-supporting material to generally conform to the user'sleg and ankle. Preferably. the edges of leg portion 15 taper upwardlyand rearwardly. as at l8.v to define a rounded top 19 which offers fullsupporting comfort to the skiers calf.

The lowest part of leg portion 15 terminates in a pair of lobes 20. thespecific structure and function of which are described in further detailbelow.

Connecting portion 17 consists of a strip of material of substantiallylesser lateral dimension than the leg portion 15. The connecting strip17 is centrally disposed. extending downwardly from the lower edge ofthe leg portion 15 into integral connection with the upper central edgeof the heel portion 16 to overlie and conform to the user's Achillestendon. Connecting portion 17 is flexibly constructed to permit forwardand rearward flexing movement of theleg portion 15 relative to the heelportion 16, but prevents upward. downward or side-to-side flexingmovement of the leg portion 15 relative to the heel portion 16. As such.the connecting portion 17 transmits and transfers the stabilizing effectof the heel portion 16 of the leg portion 15.

Heel portion 16 is essentially horizontally disposed: i.e.. it extendstransversely forward of the essentially vertical dimension of legportion 15. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. and with specific referenceto FIGS. 2 and 3. heel portion 16 has curved sides which extend forwardfrom the connecting portion 17 and are interconnected by a bottom todefine a heel socket 21 which receives and generally conforms to theskiers heel and is thereby held in place within the boot 11. As is shownin FIG. 3. the curved sides are defined by a pair of later allyextending tabs 22 each of which is recessed as at 23. The bottom of heelportion 16 is defined by a downwardly extending central tab 24 and apair of tabs 25 which respectively extend downward from the ends of theside tabs 22. Bottom forming tabs 24 and 25 are bent forwardly about thebend lines indicated in FlG. 3 and are interconnected in planar relationafter the necessary curvature of side tabs 22 has been accomplished.Such interconnection is preferably by an adhesive or by fusion. althoughmechanical interconnection would obviously be possible.

An alternate heel portion 16a is shown in FIG. 5. which essentiallyconsists of a solid cup with curved sides 22a interconnected by aconcave bottom 24a to define a socket 21a which comfortably conforms tothe skier's heel.

Generally speaking. the heel portion 16 of FIGS. 1-4 is intended for usewith ski boots which employ a removable boot shell or liner which theskier wears. In such cases. the heel portion 16 is inserted between theshell and boot. The heel portion 16a may be used with ski boots which donot have removable liners; and, as such. is inserted for directengagement with the skiers foot.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, lobes 20 extend downwardly on eachside ofthe connecting strip 17 and in forward relation thereto. Thelobes are defined in part by recesses 26, which extend upwardly oneither side of the connecting strip 17. As constructed. the lobes 20overlie the skiers ankle bones and slide relative thereto throughout allthe skiers movements.

In the preferred embodiments. the accessory l4 is formed from a sheet ofhigh density polypropylene which offers the desired flexingcharacteristic over an extended temperature range while providing thenecessary rigidity to rearwardly brace the skiers legs. Either of thetwo embodiments disclosed may be formed by punching or cutting the shapefrom a sheet of the preferred material. with subsequent formation intothe configurations shown. The heel portion 16:! in the embodiment ofFIG. 5 can also be separately molded in order to obtain the necessaryheel curvature and thereafter secured to the connecting strip 17a eithermechanically or by bonding.

In operation. the accessory 14 can either be inserted into the ski boot11 prior to insertion of the foot. or it may be placed on the foot forsimultaneous positioning within the boot 11. With the boot fastened. theleg portion 15 is capable of a limited degree of forward and rearwardflexing relative to the connecting portion 17. while at the same timeoffering the requisite bracing to the back of the skiers calves. thuspermittting the skier to "sit back" on his skis and execute theaforementioned turning techniques.

I claim:

1. An accessory for use inside the boots of a skier for rearwardlybracing the skiers legs. comprising:

a. an elongated concave leg portion of predetermined length chosen toextend upwardly from approximately the users upper ankle to the calf.the leg portion being essentially concave over its length and flexiblyconstructed to generally conform to a substantial portion of the backside of the user's calf and upper ankle;

b. a heel portion extending generally transversely forward of theelongated leg portion and configured to receive the users heel and beheld in place within the user's boot thereby.

c. and means connecting the leg portion to the heel portion so as topermit rearward to forward flexing movement of the leg portion relativeto the heel portion while essentially precluding upward and downwardmovement of the leg portion relative to the heel portion.

2. The accessory defined by claim I, wherein the connecting means iscentrally connected to the lower leg portion. and the leg portionfurther comprises first and second lobes extending downward on each sideof the connecting means and in forward relation thereto to overlie theusers ankle bones.

3. The accessory defined by claim 2, wherein the connecting meanscomprises a strip of material of lesser lateral dimension than the legportion and adapted to overlie and conform to the users Achilles tendon.

4. The accessory defined by claim 1. wherein the heel portion comprisessides interconnected by a bottom which together define a socket for theskiers heel.

5. The accessory defined by claim 1, wherein the connecting meanscomprises a strip of material of lesser lateral dimension than the legportion. the connecting strip being centrally connected to the lower legportion and adapted to overlie and conform to the user's Achillestendon.

6. The accessory defined by claim 5. wherein the leg and heel portionsand the connecting strip are formed from a sheet of plastic material.the heel portion comprising a first pair of tabs extending laterallyfrom the connecting strip. a second pair of tabs respectively extendingdownward from the end of the first pair of tabs. and a central tabextending downward from the connecting strip. the first pair of tabsbeing formed to curve forwardly from the connecting strip to definesides for the heel portion. and the central and second pair of tabsbeing formed and interconnected in planar relation to define the bottomfor the heel portion.

7. The accessory defined by claim 5, wherein the heel portion comprisesa cup shaped member having curved sides and a concave bottom defining asocket to receive the skiers heel.

8. The accessory defined by claim 1. wherein the leg portion is formedfrom a sheet of flexible material. the upper edge of the leg portiontapering upwardly and rearwardly to define a rounded top.

9. The accessory defined by claim I, wherein the leg and heel portionsand the connecting means are integrally formed from a sheet of said highdensity polypro-

1. An accessory for use inside the boots of a skier for rearwardlybracing the skier''s legs, comprising: a. an elongated concave legportion of predetermined length chosen to extend upwardly fromapproximately the user''s upper ankle to the cAlf, the leg portion beingessentially concave over its length and flexibly constructed togenerally conform to a substantial portion of the back side of theuser''s calf and upper ankle; b. a heel portion extending generallytransversely forward of the elongated leg portion and configured toreceive the user''s heel and be held in place within the user''s bootthereby; c. and means connecting the leg portion to the heel portion soas to permit rearward to forward flexing movement of the leg portionrelative to the heel portion while essentially precluding upward anddownward movement of the leg portion relative to the heel portion. 2.The accessory defined by claim 1, wherein the connecting means iscentrally connected to the lower leg portion, and the leg portionfurther comprises first and second lobes extending downward on each sideof the connecting means and in forward relation thereto to overlie theuser''s ankle bones.
 3. The accessory defined by claim 2, wherein theconnecting means comprises a strip of material of lesser lateraldimension than the leg portion and adapted to overlie and conform to theuser''s Achilles tendon.
 4. The accessory defined by claim 1, whereinthe heel portion comprises sides interconnected by a bottom whichtogether define a socket for the skier''s heel.
 5. The accessory definedby claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprises a strip of materialof lesser lateral dimension than the leg portion, the connecting stripbeing centrally connected to the lower leg portion and adapted tooverlie and conform to the user''s Achilles tendon.
 6. The accessorydefined by claim 5, wherein the leg and heel portions and the connectingstrip are formed from a sheet of plastic material, the heel portioncomprising a first pair of tabs extending laterally from the connectingstrip, a second pair of tabs respectively extending downward from theend of the first pair of tabs, and a central tab extending downward fromthe connecting strip, the first pair of tabs being formed to curveforwardly from the connecting strip to define sides for the heelportion, and the central and second pair of tabs being formed andinterconnected in planar relation to define the bottom for the heelportion.
 7. The accessory defined by claim 5, wherein the heel portioncomprises a cup shaped member having curved sides and a concave bottomdefining a socket to receive the skier''s heel.
 8. The accessory definedby claim 1, wherein the leg portion is formed from a sheet of flexiblematerial, the upper edge of the leg portion tapering upwardly andrearwardly to define a rounded top.
 9. The accessory defined by claim 1,wherein the leg and heel portions and the connecting means areintegrally formed from a sheet of said high density polypropylene.